Kitchen to Classroom: How a Nonprofit Provides Indian Students with Midday Meals
(2025)
Produce delivery from Kolar, a city in Karnataka, India, arriving at Akshaya Patra, a non-profit providing mid-day meals to school children across India. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
Delivery workers unloading produce from a truck to an Akshaya Patra kitchen. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
This is the 1st Akshaya Patra kitchen in India, located in Bangalore, Karnataka. The nonprofit provides school meals to over 2.25 million children in India from their 72 kitchens. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
Kitchen cleaners sterilize large curry pots for the next days usage. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
Women are cutting a seasonal winter vegetable for the following day's meal. Akshaya Patra has roughly 6,000 employees with 30% of which being women. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
Coconut is shaved for additional flavor in the next day's curry. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
An entrance to a school neighboring Akshaya Patra that receives the kitchen's mid-day meals. The writing is in Kannada and says, first line - "Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan" second line - "Where there is a school – There is education everywhere." Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
School children gather at the roof of the school building. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
School children sit waiting for instruction from their teachers while snacking on biscuits. The students include elementary and middle school ages. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
Inside a classroom, students names are written in Kannada on a chalkboard. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
These lunch dishes and serving ware are used for Akshaya Patra's midday meals. Each student washes their plate before and after eating with the faucet right of picture. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
A school girl washes her hands before sitting for lunch. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
Teachers open food provided by Akshaya Patra. The food pictured includes basmati rice, boiled eggs, curry, and seasonal beans. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
Teachers begin serving the older students to hand out meals to the younger seated students. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
An older schoolgirl hands out trays of food to seated students. Each student must stay seated before everyone receives their tray of food. Together, the students and teachers recite a prayer and then begin to eat. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
Schoolgirls running up the stairs of the school to join their classmates. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
A teacher and a student speak in an enclave of the school building. The building used to be a home but the woman who previously owned it donated it to be a local school for the community. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
The schoolchildren say bye to resume the remainder of their classes for the day. Bangalore, Karnataka on January 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
Chess After Hours: How a Traditional Game Takes on New Meaning
(2025)
Club Chess is a nuanced version of a chess club, playing chess in nightclubs across New York. This one was hosted in Brooklyn, New York on 154 Scott Ave. By Sahana Vij
As you enter, you're met with two doormen who check you in at the front. Michael Gorman, 35 (left) and Jesse Angel, 28 (right). Brooklyn, New York, on March 15, 2025, by Sahana Vij.
Through the doors, past a bar, and down a stairwell sits a dance floor, a DJ, and an enclave for chess. Brooklyn, New York, on March 15, 2025, by Sahana Vij.
A game begins as the players choose who will have which color. Brooklyn, New York, on March 15, 2025, by Sahana Vij.
The color is chosen as a continuation from the previous. Brooklyn, New York, on March 15, 2025, by Sahana Vij.
Club Chess was founded by Alexander Luke Bahta, 30, in 2021 intended to revive the game of chess after the pandemic with the goal to make it “sexier” than before. Brooklyn, New York on March 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
The founder sits with friends. Left to right: Giselle Eng, 28, Kevin James Neal, 29, Alexander Luke Bhata, 30, and Corrine Ciani, 28.
A game is in session as a white pawn is moved
Two dancers pose for a portrait. Left to right: Nicole Aquino, 21 and Olivia Liu, 21.
Two sets of players in the middle of a chess game. Brooklyn, New York, on March 15, 2025, by Sahana Vij.
A group of girls dancing after playing a round of chess. (Left to right) Adriana Gordon, 26, Miriam K, 30, Turku Celik, 24, Xochitl Cisneros, 25. Brooklyn, New York on March 15, 2025, by Sahana Vij.
A game of chess in session. Brooklyn, New York on March 15, 2025 by Sahana Vij.
Guests mingle and gather around a game of chess. Brooklyn, New York, on March 15, 2025, by Sahana Vij.
On the way out, guests take a break from the partying. Kauan Duffy, 23 smokes outside away from the music, dancing, and chess. Brooklyn, New York, on March 15, 2025, by Sahana Vij.
Inside NYC’s Smallest Coffee Shop
(2023)
Fellini Coffee, also titled the smallest coffee shop in New York City, sits on the corner of 7th Avenue and Waverly Place. The 16 square foot, Italian-style coffee shop aims at providing the West Village with coffee during the day and wine in the evening. Manhattan, New York on September 26, 2023 by Sahana Vij.
Francesco Vagliasindi, 24, is the founder and owner of Fellini Coffee and originally from Italy but a NYC resident for the past seven years. He is a student at Baruch College, but took time off to focus on developing Fellini. He plans to expand to potential new locations in the city and hopes to establish the brand’s roots in the coffee business as well. Manhattan, New York on September 26, 2023 by Sahana Vij.
Vagliasindi worked at the restaurant next door, Tivoli Trattoria, and had the idea to turn the restaurant’s storage space into an adjacent shop. “It’s my idea, they made the investment, and we made it happen,” said Vagliasindi. He transformed the existing windows into ones that could open and installed an authentic Italian-style marble serving counter. Manhattan, New York on September 26, 2023 by Sahana Vij.
The name for the shop was inspired by Federico Fellini, an Italian filmmaker who was a role model for Vagliasindi. “He was who I wanted to be as an adult; he has always been an inspiration for my life,” Vagliasindi said. Manhattan, New York on September 26, 2023 by Sahana Vij.
Vagliasindi stands in front of his coffee counter, wearing an authentic jacket true to his Italian heritage. A central goal for Vagliasindi is to provide a space reminiscent of his home in Sicily for the downtown community of New York. Manhattan, New York on September 26, 2023 by Sahana Vij.
The coffee sold at Fellini is branded exclusively for the shop, meaning the exact blend cannot be found anywhere else. Vagliasindi decided on the ingredients and grounded the flavors in authentic Sicilian flavors to bring a piece of home to the New York City community. Manhattan, New York on September 26, 2023 by Sahana Vij.
Fellini has around twenty outdoor tables aimed at providing a community space for the West Village. “I’m selling an experience; I’m not only selling coffee. It is meant to bring the community together. I always wanted a place like that for myself,” Vagliasindi said. Manhattan, New York on September 26, 2023 by Sahana Vij.
Fellini Coffee also partners with other authentic Italian brands. An orange/lemon soda brand promotes its drinks at Vagliasindi's coffee counter, offering customers a free soda with a coffee. Manhattan, New York on September 26, 2023 by Sahana Vij.
Vagliasindi works in his 16-square-foot interior workspace to craft an authentic Italian espresso for customers. Manhattan, New York on September 26, 2023 by Sahana Vij.